Fabricated sign



Oct. 22, 1929. E, F, WAMBACH 1,732,869

mnnzcmmn sum Filed Jan. 27, .1926

INVENTOR @eme [Wavzask -4115 A ORNEYS Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE FABRIOATED SIGN Applicationfiled January 27, 1926.Serial No. 84,011.

M present invention relates to si ns and exhibiting apparatus and morepartlcularly to built-up signs and it has for its ob]ect to provide asign and a method of making the 6 same which sign will be particularlyapplicable for use on the pavements of streets for the purpose ofdirecting traflic. The invention contemplates the provision of lettersand devices that may be quickly applied to the pavement in sections andwhich Will wear much longer than the usual painted letters. To these andother ends the invention resides in certain improvements andcombinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described,the novel features being pomted out in the claims at the end of thespecification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the pavement at 2 a street intersectionshowing a sign constructed in accordance with and forming one embodimentof my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the stencil that is used in making thebackground of a letter; Figure 3 is a plan view of the stencil that is.used in making the letter on the background;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a finished sign unit and Figure 5 isan enlarged section of one of said units applied to the pavement.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

It has hitherto been the practice in designating traffic regulations atstreet intersections to paint upon the pavement admomtions to drivers inthe form of printed words and also cross walk and turning lines. Thesepainted signs have to applied at nighuwhen traflic is light and requirea certain period to dry. Their application is further dependent uponweather conditions and in any event, the passing of traflic obliteratesthe palntings so rapidly that they must be frequently renewed. a

In the practice of my present invention I apply to the street surface aprepared marlr, line, numeral or other designation, which 1s preferablycomposed of a fabric impregnated 0 with paint to give the desired designand also carrying an adhesive on its under side to secure it in place.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5, 1 indicates a rectangular sheet of fabricwhich is adapted to carry a letter, and, in conjunction with othersimilar sheets forms words such as shown at A in Figure 1. A stencil inthe form of the desired letter is shown at 2, and the first operation islaid upon the fabric to mask off a corresponding area. The remainignsurface is then impregnated with a paint or covering matter which isblown therein or with which it is otherwise suitably saturated. Thismethod of impre nation results in the paint extending to a su stantialdepth in the fabric, whereby the life of the paint is substantially thesame as the fabric. The stencil 2 is then removed and a complimentarystencil shown at 3 in Figure 3 is applied, which stencil covers theimpregnated field but leaves exposed the unpainted surface previouslycovered by stencil 2. The sheet is then again submitted to a blower orthe impregnation of paint or stain of a contrasting color. The result isthat the product shown in Figure 4. Usually the field is black and theletter or designation is white, that is black paint is used in operationnumber 2 and white paint in operation number 3.

A section of the product shown in Figure 4, as before stated, is shownin Figure 5. The covering of paint is shown generally at B. A suitableadhesive 4 is next applied to the underside of the sheet by means ofwhich it may be made to closely adhere to the street surface, whichlatter is indicated at C and if asphaltum is or a similar substance isused, heat and pressure are brought to bear in obtaining a closeadhesion.

The sheets bearing letters such as shown in Figure 4, may be placed sideby side upon the pavement to spell words of direction, as shown inFigure 1. Additionally devices such as that indicated at D in Figure 1may be constructed in the same manner.

Pavement signals constructed in accordance with my invention may berapidly apruption to trafiic occasioned thereby is slight if any.

.plied and as they require no drying the inter- The adhesive that Iprefer to use is a comcure the same to the foundation, whereby thebination of gums and oils that are what may life of the painted portionsof the fabric is be termed vulcanized to the fabric strip orsubstantially the same as the fabric. letter when it is prepared at thefactory.

5 When this is placed in contact with the street EUGENE F. WAMBACH. 70

pavement, it is caused to adhere thereto, both by the action of the sunand by the action of automobile tires passing 'over it, which has anironing effect that presses it down into intimate, close and lastingcontact with the pavement.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a street pavement, of a prepared sign or signalfor the purpose of directingltraflic applied thereto and embodying a seet or str1p of stout fabric having a coating of adhesive securing it inplace on the pavement surface, and thoroughly impregnated with paint toa substantial depth,

said sheet and adhesive being of such charac ter as to be ironed out andconsolidated by the wheels of passing vehicles.

2. The combination with a street pavement, of a prepared sign or signalfor the purpose of directing trafiic applied thereto and em- 90 bodyinga sheet or strip of stout fabric impregnated to a substantial depth withpaints of contrasting colors to bring out the sign characters, andhaving a coating of adhesive securing it in place on the pavementsurface, 05

said sheet and adhesive being of such char acter as to be ironed out andconsolidated by the wheels of passing vehicles.

3. A new article of manufacture adapted to be applied to the surface ofa street so as to 10 form, a traffic sign, said article comprising asheet of absorbent fabric, a portion of said fabric being thoroughlyimpregnated with paint of one color to a substantial depth, and

the remainder of said fabric being thoroughly impregnated with paint ofa contrasting color so as to form a letter of the alphabet, and acoating of adhesive on one side of said sheet of fabric, said adhesivebeing of a character 45 adapted to be ironed out and consolidated by thewheels of passing vehicles when said article has been applied to thesurface of a street. 4. As an article of manufacture, for use as y asign or signal on a foundation, a strip of 5 fabric having a portionthereof impregnated with paint to a substantial depth and havingadhesive applied to the bottom side thereof to secure thesame to saidfoundation, whereby the life of the paint is substantially the same 55as the fabric.

5. As an article of manufacture, for use as a sign or signal on afoundation, a strip of fabric having a portion thereof impregnated withpaint extending substantially en- 60 tirely through the fabric andrepresenting the m5 desired signal, and other portions of the strip offabric being impregnated With paint of contrasting color extending asubstantial depth in the fabric, the bottom side of the 65 strip havingapplied thereto adhesive to se-

